Blockbuster Avengers movie opens - complete with gay character

News

Posted on 26 Apr 2019

Blockbuster superhero movie Avengers: Endgame has finally opened in UK cinemas - and features the first openly gay character to appear in a Disney/Marvel movie.

Played in a scene early in the film by Joe Russo - who co-directed with his brother, Anthony - the character is one of a number of bereaved people attempting to move on from the experience of losing loved ones who vanished at the end of the previous movie, Avengers: Infinity War.

In the new film, the character talks about going on his first date since losing his male partner.

Speaking about the character, Joe Russo told Deadline: “Representation is really important. It was important to us as we did four of these films, we wanted a gay character somewhere in them. We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that. It is a perfect time, because one of the things that is compelling about the Marvel Universe moving forward is its focus on diversity.”

He added: “We wanted it to be casual, with the fact that the character is gay tied into the fabric of the storytelling and representing what everyday life is. We’re trying to represent everyone in everyday life. These are global movies that reach a lot of people. They are important to a lot of people and everyone has the right to see themselves on the screen and identify somewhere.”